Alstroemeria plant named ‘Teshope’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Teshope’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and relatively short internodes; dense and bushy appearance; large and numerous white, yellow and red purple-colored flowers held above the foliar plane on relatively short flower pedicels; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TESHOPE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, grown typically as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Teshope’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering potted garden Alstroemeria plants with uniform plant habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in April, 2005 of a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number G543, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number PC101, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in February, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by root divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands since April, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Teshope’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Teshope’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded         plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth         habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit and relatively short internodes; dense         and bushy appearance.     -   4. Large and numerous white, yellow and red purple-colored         flowers held above the foliar plane on relatively short flower         pedicels.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have pink and yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have white and pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tescreda’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of ‘Tescreda’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have larger leaves than plants         of ‘Tescreda’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Tescreda’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Tescreda’ have flowers that are white         blushed with pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Teshope’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria plant grown during the winter and early spring in four-liter containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Kudelstaart, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 12° C. and light levels averaged 7,000 lux. Plants were 21 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Teshope’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number G543, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number PC101, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About seven             weeks at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About eight             weeks at 16° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.         -   Rhizome length.—About 3 cm.         -   Rhizome diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Rhizome texture.—Smooth.         -   Rhizome color.—Close to 195A to 195B. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright,             somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant             habit; broad inverted triangle; freely branching habit with             about 15 primary lateral branches developing per plant;             relatively short internodes, dense and bushy appearance;             sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 21 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 35 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.         -   Length.—About 14.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 8 mm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; waxy cuticle.         -   Color.—Close to 144A to 144B; waxy cuticle, close to 145A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single             whorl; simple.         -   Length.—About 5.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate; twisting.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Facing downward,             between 137D and 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Facing upright, between 143A and 144A. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: Facing downward, between 137B and             189A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Facing upright, between N137C and 147A; venation,             close to 144A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Color:             Close to 143A to 143B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single zygomorphic flowers arranged             in compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly to             upright; perianth segments separate; freely flowering habit             with about 16 flowers developing per inflorescence and about             240 flowers developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight             weeks after planting; flowering continuous from summer into             the autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.             Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 143B; apex, close to 137B             slightly tinged with close to 181A; base, close to 144B.         -   Umbel height.—About 12 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 14 cm.         -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—About 6.7 cm.         -   Flower length (vertical).—About 6.9 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 6.9 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six segments arranged in two whorls,             each whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size,             inner perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6.9 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 2.1 cm. Length, median             segments: About 6.3 cm. Width, median segments: About 2 cm.             Size, outer perianth: Length, lateral segments: About             6.7 cm. Width, lateral segments: About 3.7 cm. Length,             median segments: About 6.7 cm. Width, median segments: About             3.7 cm. Shape, inner perianth, lateral and median segments:             Oblanceolate. Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Obovate. Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median             segments: Abruptly acute. Apex, outer perianth, lateral and             median segments: Emarginate. Base, inner perianth, lateral             and median segments: Narrowly cuneate. Base, outer perianth,             lateral and median segments: Long cuneate. Margin, inner             perianth, lateral and median segments: Entire. Margin, outer             perianth, lateral and median segments: Towards the apex,             finely serrate; towards the base, entire. Texture, inner and             outer perianths, lateral and median segments: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly velvety. Color, inner perianth: When             opening, lateral segments, upper surface: Close to 150B;             apex, close to 182A; towards the base, close to N170D;             spots, close to 200D. When opening, median segments, upper             surface: Between 150C and 1C; apex, close to 181A to 181B.             When opening, lateral segments, lower surface: Close to             150B; apex, close to 182A; towards the base, close to N170D.             When opening, median segments, lower surface: Close to 150C;             apex, close to 181A to 181B. Fully opened, lateral segments,             upper surface: Close to 6B; apex, between 181B and 182A;             spots, close to 200D. Fully opened, median segments, upper             surface: Close to 4A; apex, close to 184D; towards the base,             close to 62C. Fully opened, lateral segments, lower surface:             Close to 5A to 5B; apex, close to 184C to 184D; towards the             base, close to 182D. Fully opened, median segments, lower             surface: Close to 3C; apex, close to 184D; towards the base,             close to 73C. Color, outer perianth: When opening, lateral             and median segments, upper surface: Close to 145C; margins,             close to 63A to 63B; apex, close to 143A; towards the base,             close to 63D. When opening, lateral and median segments,             lower surface: Between 63B and 186B; apex, close to 143A;             towards the base, close to 186B. Fully opened, lateral and             median segments, upper surface: Close to 145C to 145D;             margins, close to 63A to 63B; apex, close to 146B; toward             the base, close to 73C. Fully opened, lateral and median             segments, lower surface: Close to 185C to 185D; apex, close             to 143A; towards the base, close to 186B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 15° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy cuticle. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144A to 144B; waxy cuticle, close             to 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Filament length: About 3.7 cm. Filament color: Close to 75A;             towards the base, close to 150D. Anther shape: Reniform.             Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 152A.             Pollen amount: Moderate. . Pollen color: Close to 201A.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             4 cm. Style length: About 3.7 cm. Style color: Close to             186C; towards the base, close to NN155B. Stigma shape:             Tri-parted; parts, club-shaped, curved. Stigma color: Close             to 185A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain,     high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 8. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Teshope’ as illustrated and described. 